The 9 key plays

[Times photo: Jim Damaske] Trent Dilfer comforts Shaun King. The game in photos Main story Not enough Gary Shelton Six points doesn't cut it for King, Bucs Hubert Mizell Sometimes it is just as easy as a snap Ineffective attack finally costs Bucs Defense's spy scheme shuts Faulk down. Bucs covered primary concern Locker room is a house of pain The Party Line Bad call does in Bucs; offense doesn't help Patience pays off for Rams 'They'll be heroes no matter what' Once-sorry Bucs carry region to higher, common ground Emanuel: No need for review From the rule book What They're Saying Fire and Ice Quick hits Quarter by quarter By the numbers The 9 key plays Rams quotebook Bucs quotebook BUCS POLL: How will the Bucs do next season? Vote

Times staff writer

© St. Petersburg Times, published January 24, 2000

1. QUARTER: 4.

• POSSESSION: Rams.
• SCORE: Bucs 6, Rams 5.
• DOWN/DISTANCE: Third and 4.
• LINE OF SCRIMMAGE: Tampa Bay 30.
• THE PLAY: Hoping to either push the Rams out of field goal range or force them into an interception (or a long field goal), the Bucs blitzed safety Damien Robinson on the pass play, leaving cornerback Brian Kelly one-on-one with Ricky Proehl. Kurt Warner lofted a perfect pass to Proehl down the left sideline and Proehl gathered it in for the winning score.
• RESULT: Rams take 11-6 lead.

2. QUARTER: 4.

• POSSESSION: Bucs.
• SCORE: Rams 11, Bucs 6.
• DOWN/DISTANCE: Second and 23.
• LINE OF SCRIMMAGE: St. Louis 35.
• THE PLAY: Needing a big play after a sack, Shaun King appeared to hit Bert Emanuel with 13-yard pass to the Rams 22, giving them two plays to pick up 10 yards and keep the drive alive. The replay official in the press box requested a review, however, and the pass was incomplete. King threw incomplete passes on the last two plays of the season.
• RESULT: Rams maintain 11-6 lead.

3. QUARTER: 4.

• POSSESSION: Bucs.
• SCORE: Bucs 6, Rams 5.
• DOWN/DISTANCE: Third and 11.
• LINE OF SCRIMMAGE: Midfield.
• THE PLAY: King saved his biggest mistake for the end, having his short dump across the middle intercepted by cornerback Dre' Bly, who returned it to the Tampa Bay 47. The play led to St. Louis' winning touchdown.
• RESULT: Sets up winning score.

4. QUARTER: 4.

• POSSESSION: Bucs.
• SCORE: Bucs 6, Rams 5.
• DOWN/DISTANCE: fouth and 3.
• LINE OF SCRIMMAGE: Rams 35.
• THE PLAY: Coach Tony Dungy opted to forgo a 52-yard Gramatica field goal, calling a pass to Jacquez Green for a 13-yard gain to the Rams 22. But the Bucs were called for delay of game before the snap, forcing a punt and denying a chance to extend their lead.
• RESULT: Bucs maintain 1-point lead.

5. QUARTER: 3.

• POSSESSION: Rams.
• SCORE: Bucs 6, Rams 5.
• DOWN/DISTANCE: Third and 20
• LINE OF SCRIMMAGE: Bucs 24.
• THE PLAY: Warner had driven the Rams into field goal range on their first possession of the second half, a drive that included a clutch 16-yard pass on third and 15. But three plays later, Warner threw behind Proehl and linebacker Hardy Nickerson intercepted and returned the ball to the Rams 8.
• RESULT: Bucs maintain the lead, 6-5.

6. QUARTER: 3.

• POSSESSION: Bucs.
• SCORE: Rams 5, Bucs 3.
• DOWN/DISTANCE: Third and 8.
• LINE OF SCRIMMAGE: St. Louis 33.
• THE PLAY: King lobs a perfect pass over defender Taje Allen to Green for a 32-yard gain to the Rams 25. The damage to the Rams is compounded when Allen is flagged for a facemask on the tackle, giving Tampa Bay a first down at the St. Louis 12. Three plays yielded 7 yards and Gramatica kicked the 23-yard field goal.
• RESULT: Bucs take the lead, 6-5.

7. QUARTER: 2

• POSSESSION: Bucs.
• SCORE: Rams 5, Bucs 3.
• DOWN/DISTANCE: third and 3.
• LINE OF SCRIMMAGE: Rams 26.
• THE PLAY: The Bucs had driven close enough for a Gramatica field goal attempt, which would have put Tampa Bay ahead 6-5 with 3 minutes to go in the half. But King was sacked and stripped of the ball by linebacker Charlie Clemons. Jerry Wunsch recovered the fumble for a 7-yard loss, pushing the Bucs out of field goal range.
• RESULT: Rams maintain the lead, 5-3.

8. QUARTER: 2.

• POSSESSION: Bucs.
• SCORE: Tied at 3.
• DOWN/DISTANCE: Second and 13.
• LINE OF SCRIMMAGE: Bucs 27.
• THE PLAY: Tampa Bay center Tony Mayberry sailed the shotgun snap over the head of King, and all King could do was bat the ball out of the end zone. Aside from the two points, it also gave the Rams offense the ball back.RESULT: Rams take the lead, 5-3.

9. QUARTER: 1.

• POSSESSION: Rams.
• SCORE: Tied at 0
• DOWN/DISTANCE: First and 10.
• LINE OF SCRIMMAGE: Rams 23.
• THE PLAY: The Bucs defense wasted no time making its presence felt as Steve White intercepted Warner on the first play of the game. Warner was attempting to throw to running back Marshall Faulk on a screen pass. It was White's first interception of the season, and gave the Bucs the ball at the Rams 20.
• RESULT: Led to a 25-yard Gramatica field goal and a 3-0 lead.

© St. Petersburg Times. All rights reserved.